He was heading back in to the locker room After a long day of training. The coach once again had held him after to run him. Making him the last one in again. He was about to put his gear up, when Chase stopped him. "late again?" Chase laughed as he got closer.

"BACK OFF CHASE!" Kevin snapped as he unlocked his locker,"I"m not in the mood!"

"Not in the mood?" Chase said as he crept closer. "Maybe you forgotten your place! Do I need to remind you of it? "HAIRS" ! " Chase laughed. Kevin flinched as he heard it. Then, all of a sudden, Chase shoved Kevin in to the ground.

"WATCH IT!" Kevin yelled as he got up. Two of Chase's friends popped out from nowhere . He was out numbered.The three then "jumped" him. Soon he was running towards the door, but, he seemed to never get to it. Chase was right on his heals. Reaching the door, he grabbed it only to find out it was locked. He then turned and he was in the showers with Chase and his buddies. They were knocking him around shoving him down and against the wall. He tried to fight but grew more afraid and more weak. He then saw the locked equipment area that chase had locked him in, at night on some weekends, that chase had decided to give Kevin some "Special" training.Which was Chase's code name for torturing Kevin. He tried to scream but couldn't. He then saw the scenes repeat them selves over and over.

Kevin then woke up in a cold sweat and breathing heavy. He was back in his room. He realized that he once again had a nightmare about what happen.Taking a few quick breaths he looked at his clock. "1:53 am" Knowing that his mother would leave him some dinner , he snuck down stairs and headed to the kitchen. "Another Sleepless night." He thought as he got his plate out of the oven. He then sat down and nibbled on the luke warm dinner. He still struggled with the images he had seen in his sleep. He had blocked out some of it, but, he could still see bits and pieces of what took place.

"Your Nothing!." Chases Voice popped in his mind! He then gulped a bite down before he felt the sting as he started to tremble. "Hairs!" Chases voice said again. He jumped, even though he knew that it was only in his mind. Finishing what he could, he soon put his plate in the sink and headed back to bed. Thoughts of Chase consumed him as he tossed and turn. He tried to think of anything else but, couldn't. Then from out of no where , Janis's face came in to "view". Kevin jumped, sitting straight up in bed after the vision came. He then relaxed and fell back a sleep.

As he re-woke , he looked at his clock. "8:12". He then fell back on his bed. There was no way he could make the bus now. He then turn back over and laid there. When he finally did get up he went down stairs and into the kitchen. He then saw the note that his mom left on the table.

Called the school already. Telling them you would be absent. Feel better. -Mom

Putting down the note, he went back into the living room and laid on the couch. Minutes later he decided to attempt eating. He waited for the familiar sting to reappear as he walked back into the kitchen. As he got out a bowl , he felt it. He then thought about reconsidering eating, he then brush his knew idea away and got the cereal out.

Once finished, he returned to his room and bed. He was still fighting thoughts of Chase as he laid there. He then got up and went to watch TV. He then dozed off in front of the TV only to be jolted out of his sleep once more, by another dream. He then began to pace trying to calm down. By habit, He looked at the clock, "11:10", Soon Janis would head back to the bench to find him not there. He started to worry as he felt the lump. He hoped that she would think that he might had stayed home after yesterday's events. From out of nowhere he felt calm. The vision of Janis entered his mind. He wished he could go to school just for lunch. He sat back on the couch and thought about her. How warm she was, her laugh, and of course her smile. "Why would some one like her even talk to.. someone like me?" He thought, "No one else even gives me a second glance."

His mind then trailed back to Chase and "hairs" The taunts, the jokes, the attacks, the laughter. He then raced up stairs and straight into the bathroom. He was nauseas once again. As he held him self over the sink preparing to aim for the toilet . He looked at his him self in the mirror. All he could see were those Hairs. The reason he had the name. " I'll do it" He thought as he search for the scissors, " I'll cut them off." He tore through the bathroom. Finally finding the scissors he took a breath. As he stood over the sink, Janis appeared in his mind again, stopping him from clapping down the scissors. "Do It!" He yelled, "Just do it! Come on." Tears then rushed down his face as he lowered the scissors. He then felt the nauseous feeling again and held on to the counter as the bathroom "spined". After getting control of his balance . He returned to his room and sat up against the wall hiding. Tears flowed down his cheek. He couldn't get composer. He wanted the pain to stop. He soon got control once more and began to wipe his tears. For some reason He decided to go to the garage.

As he open the door to the garage, He looked at the old boxes of Jawbreakers. Not really giving them a second thought he maneuvered around until he got to, what looked like, a covered pile of junk. Removing the sheet, he saw his bike. Which has been under the sheet ever since He had started camp. "Sorry I haven't seen you in a while."Kevin said out loud,"I guess I'm not who I used to be." He then found an old rag and started to wipe the thin layer of dust of. Memories of him and his bike flashed threw his mind. He would Give anything to go any thing to go back to those, Yet , some how , he knew he couldn't. He then started to pushed his bike out from it nook in the garage. He then open the door, put his hood up, and got on his bike. He was wobbly at first , he then soon got back into the rhythm. As he rode in no particular direction he tried to put Chase and High school out of his mind.

Kevin then found him self by his old middle school. He then walked up to the fence that surrounded the football field. It was his, his field! He remember every game that he played and mostly lost. He remember gym class and how he was so close to the coach. Kevin then caught a tear escaping his eye. He then notice the class out on it, he wanted to join them. He hated Gym in high school. He wasn't Gym assistant or the all star Quarter back. Thanks to chase, he was "hairs". He then walked away as he fought tears back. Chase then popped back in to his mind. He then took his bike and walked home. As he park his bike and recovered it. he started to trembled. He then return in side and went back to bed.

Moments later, He heard the doorbell. He looked outside and saw a Blue car. It was Janis. He then raced down stairs. Opening the door He saw Janis wit a worried look. "Hi" He said as he caught his breath.

"You're...OK! I thought...Never mind.. " Janis said as she loosen up.

"I was sick ... Sorry we didn't meet" as Kevin open the door a little more," Do you want to come in?"

"Sure!.. I ask Deloris if you were absent before lunch. I thought you might be after yesterday. Feeling better?" Janis said with a warm smile as she walked past Kevin.

"A little." Kevin said under his breath. "Why did you come anyway?" He stared at her for a minute.

"Everyone talked about ..."Hairs" not being at school. It got me worried... Chase was... "Janis said as she panic," I was just worried.. they way you talked yesterday scared me."

"I'm fine." He said as he sat back down on the couch. Janis them joined him,"I bet chase celebrated that "Hairs" wasn't there." Kevin Mumbled.

"In a way..., But, You shouldn't concentrate on Chase! I missed you I missed having lunch with you." Janis said as Kevin looked at her. "I did!.. Why can't you get it?."

"It's... Because... No one cares about "Hairs" or me. I... almost ...cut ..." Kevin said as he pointed to the reason of his name.

"YOU WHAT?" Janis said as she jumped up, "Why? Did you think that would stop the name calling? That is one of your best feature!.. What stop you?"

"YOU! You popped into my head and I stopped!" Kevin blurted out. They both took a step back. He had said it. He like Janis , Hthen got scared of what Janis did next. "I don't know why... I..."

"I'm glad you didn't!" Janis said as she took a step closer," I'm just glad you're OK. You know, I do like those hairs. I told you that before. It's a part of who you are.. and I like you!"

"You like me?" Kevin asked with a bit of worry in his voice.

"Of course I like you!" Janis said," Why else would I meet you for lunch? Or Take you out like I did yesterday. I care about you! That's why I came over today." Janis then took a step closer. " I was worried!" Kevin then stared at her in "awe". He hadn't been liked by any one and Chase told him that know one did. Janis then stepped closer.

"Chase..." Kevin trailed off.

"What has chase been telling you? What else has he done to you?" Janis said as Kevin started to trembled and panic.

"I... I... can't tell you! I can't tell anyone!" Kevin squeaked as he felt the pain in his stomach. Visions from his dream popped into his mind.

"Why? Why do you let him beat you like a "rolled up rug"? You need to stop this!." Janis said as he reach out for Kevin as he jerk away.

"I have to get through this! No one can know! Chase said he'll kill me if..." Kevin said under his breath.

"AT LEAST TELL ME WHAT HE SAYS! " Janis says as Kevin coward. "I'm sorry..."

"WHY DO YOU EVEN CARE?" Kevin Yelled at the top of his lungs.

"BECAUSE! I've seen this happen before! Some of my friends turn "emo" because of it! I don't want to seed that happing to you. Please, What has chase been saying?" Janis said as she sat down on the couch.

From out of no where Kevin started to rambled," HE SAYS I'M NOTHING.. I HAVE NO FRIENDS...I HAVE NO ONE!... NO ONE WANTS TO EVEN LOOK AT ME.. I'M A WASTE... I CAN'T LOOK UP! I...WORTHLESS... I'M.. I'M..."

"HE'S WRONG!"Janis said trying to stop Kevin.

"HE'S RIGHT, JANIS! 100 PERCENT RIGHT! HE'S BEEN RIGHT EVER SINCE FOOTBALL CAMP! I'M NOTHING BUT HAIRS!" Kevin blurted out as tears fell.

"Like I told you yesterday, You have me!" Janis said getting up. Kevin then look at her for a second . She then took his hand and pulled him close. She then hugged him. Seconds later , Kevin began to hug back.

" You're my friend?" Kevin asked in between breaths .

"YES, I am!" Janis said with a laugh. Kevin then squeezed tighter. His fears and doubts soon faded. He then remember the diner when he first thought of Janis as a friend. Now he knew for sure.

"Are you my friend?" Janis laugh Kevin nodded a slight yes.

"If you want me to be?", He said as they separated from each other just enough to Lock at one another.

" Well, Duh" Janis laugh again. She then pulled him in back close to her. The warm comfortable feeling return, Kevin felt it getting stronger with every second. They continued to visit for a few hours. Janis then left right before Kevin's parents got home.

"Will I see you tomorrow?" Janis ask Kevin, as sheheaded out the door.

"Yeah, Do you still want to meet me for lunch ?" Kevin asks with hope.

"Of course!" Janis said with a warm smile. Kevin then smiled slightly. It was the first time in months he had smiled. "Is that your smile?" Janis said with a gasp.

"I guess? Is something wrong with it?" Kevin said nervously realizing that he had smile.

"That's the first time I've seen you smile!.. I like it!.. See you tomorrow." She then headed out to her car and drove off. Kevin watch her drive away. He finally notice that the Eds were walking home. He then quickly closed the door. He then thought of what just happen. A girl Touch him, actually hugged him. He also smiled. He then headed back up stairs to his room.